Kauko Hannes Aunio

Kauko Hannes Aunio January 28, 1952-January 31, 2023 Our beloved husband, father, and grandfather, Kauko Aunio, left us on January 31, 2023 after a long struggle with frontotemporal dementia. He was 71 years old. Kauko was born on January 28, 1952 in Ylistaro, Finland as the youngest of six children. In 1958, he immigrated with his family to Fitchburg, Massachusetts at just six years old. There, he later graduated from Fitchburg High School where he also met the love of his life, Judith (née Pawelski). Kauko went on to graduate from Northeastern University with a degree in Chemical Engineering. Before retiring, Kauko was a well-loved and respected member of the profession, where he led the research and development division for Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) in Bayonne, NJ and later consulted on a host of fluoropolymer industry products and topics during his over 30 year career. Throughout his life, Kauko was an active member of several Lutheran congregations, often serving on council to support the church’s ministry. He could be found organizing tastings and sharing his recipes with the community or cooking multi-course gourmet meals for his family. Kauko was never happier, as he was wont to remind us, than when surrounded by his family. He married Judith in 1970, when they were just 19 and 17. Their 52-year marriage was one of his proudest achievements. As a father, he was a constant source of love and strength to his family as he shepherded his four children, Kenneth, Anna-Liisa, Lara, and Jon, into adulthood. He is survived by his wife, children, their spouses and seven beautiful grandchildren who all miss him immensely. He also leaves his brother, Vesa Aunio, and sister, Helena Rosengren. He is predeceased by parents, John and Lempi as well as his brothers Rainer, Helmer, and Urho. His funeral will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 11, 2023 at Brandon Funeral Home (https://brandonfuneral.com/), 305 Wanoosnoc Road, Fitchburg, MA 01420. Burial will follow in Forest Hill Cemetery, Fitchburg. Attendees are welcome to join the family for fellowship following the burial at Slattery’s Restaurant and Bar (http://slatterysrestaurant.com), 106 Lunenburg St., Fitchburg, MA 01420. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Kauko’s honor to the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD) at https://www.classy.org/give/381228/… or to a local charity of your choice. Brandon Funeral Home, 305 Wanoosnoc Road, Fitchburg is directing arrangements